Container

ABSTRACT

A collapsible container includes a plurality of walls collapsible onto the base. At least one wall has a support pivotably mounted to an upper end portion thereof. The support is pivotable between a support position, where it is partially supported on an adjacent wall and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the wall can be pivoted downward onto the base, with a portion of the support passing through a channel formed on the interior of the adjacent wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to collapsible crates and moreparticularly to a collapsible crate with support members for supportinganother container thereon.

Collapsible crates are well known. Four walls each connected via a hingeto a base are selectively movable about the hinge between a useposition, in which the wall is generally perpendicular to the base, anda collapsed position onto the base. Various mechanisms have beenprovided to connect adjacent walls at the comer to selectively lock thecrate in the use position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a collapsible container having aplurality of walls collapsible onto the base. At least one wall has asupport pivotably mounted to an upper end portion thereof. The supportis pivotable between a support position where it is partially supportedon an adjacent wall and a retracted position. In the retracted position,the wall can be pivoted downward onto the base, with a portion of thesupport passing through a channel formed on the interior of the adjacentwall.

The supports may be formed on short end walls of the container, suchthat the supports and end walls can be collapsed onto the base and thelong side walls can be pivoted onto the end walls. In this manner, thesupports are protected from damage during shipping of the containers inthe collapsed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention can be understood by referenceto the following detailed description when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the presentinvention, with the walls in the upright position and the supports inthe support position.

FIG. 2 illustrates the container of FIG. 1 with a second containersupported thereon.

FIG. 3 is an interior perspective view, partially broken away, of thecontainer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, with the support in theretracted position.

FIG. 7 illustrates the container of FIG. 6 with the wall being pivotedtoward the collapsed position.

FIG. 8 illustrates the container of FIG. 6 with the wall in thecollapsed position.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view take along line 9-9 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 illustrates the container of FIG. 8 with the side wall collapsedonto the end wall.

FIG. 10A is an exterior perspective view of the container of FIG. 1showing a latch that could be used to connect adjacent walls.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a container according to a secondembodiment of the present invention, with the walls in the uprightposition and the supports in the support position.

FIG. 12 illustrates the container of FIG. 11 with a second containersupported thereon.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of one of the supports of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is an interior perspective view, partially broken away, of thecontainer of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along lines 15-15 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to that of FIG. 14, with the support in thevertical position.

FIG. 17 is a view similar to that of FIG. 16, with the support in thefully retracted position.

FIG. 18 illustrates the container of FIG. 17 with the wall being pivotedtoward the collapsed position.

FIG. 19 illustrates the container of FIG. 17 with the wall in thecollapsed position.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged sectional view take along line 20-20 of FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a container 10 includes a base 12 having upstandingside walls 14 (or long walls) and upstanding end walls 18 (or shortwalls). The side walls 14 and end walls 18 are pivotably connected alonglong and short edges of the base 12, respectively. The side walls 14and, end walls 18 are movable between the upright position shown and acollapsed position on the base 12.

Each end wall 18 has a support 20 (or flap) pivotably mounted to anupper portion thereof. The supports 20 are shown in FIG. 1 pivoted to asupport position generally perpendicular to the end walls 18 andprojecting into the interior of the container 10. In the supportposition, laterally-extending tabs 21 are supported on the side walls14.

The interiors of the side walls 14 each include an upper frame portion22 protruding into the container 10. A pair of curved channels 24 isformed through each upper frame portion 22. The interiors of the sidewalls 14 each further include a lower frame portion 26 having a pair ofchannels 28 formed therethrough. A recess 30 is defined between theupper frame portion 22 and the lower frame portion 26. The base 12includes a pair of side upstanding portions 32 to which the side walls14 are pivotably attached. Each side upstanding portion 32 includes apair of channels 34 formed on an interior thereof. The channels 24, 28and 34 are aligned with one another in a manner that will be explainedbelow. The base 12 further includes a pair of end upstanding portions 36to which the end walls 18 are pivotably attached.

Referring to FIG. 2, with the supports 20 in the support position,another container 100 can be supported on the supports 20 of thecontainer 10.

FIG. 3 is an interior perspective view, partially broken away, of thecontainer 10 of FIG. 1. The support 20 includes a stop member 38, suchas an elongated rib projecting outwardly from a bottom edge of thesupport 20. The support 20 further includes an interlocking feature 40,such as an elongated rib extending upwardly from an upper edge of thesupport 20. As shown, the tab 21 of the support 20 is received in arecess 44 at the upper edge of the side wall 14 when the support 20 isin the support position. As can also be seen in FIG. 3, the tab 21 doesnot align with the channels 24, 28 or 34 when the support 20 is in thesupport position. The end wall 18 includes a handle 42 formed therein.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3. The end wall18 may be pivotably connected to the base 12 via a hinge including ahinge member 48 integral with the end wall 18 and a hinge pin 50integral with the base 12.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3. The support20 is pivotably connected to an upper portion of the end wall 18 via ahinge including a hinge member 54 integrally molded with the support 20and a hinge pin 56 integrally molded with the end wall 18.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, with the support 20 in theretracted position (i.e. retracted from the interior of the container10). In the retracted position, the support 10 is pivoted upwardly untilthe stop member 38 abuts the upper edge of the end wall 18, therebypreventing further movement. In the retracted position, the support 20does not project into the interior of the container 10 and is generallyparallel to the end wall 18, extending upwardly from the upper edge ofthe end wall 18. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the tab 21 includes a recess58 on its underside that receives a projection 60 adjacent the recess 44in the side wall 14 so that the tab 21 interlocks with the side wall 14.

FIG. 7 illustrates the container 10 of FIG. 6 with the end wall 18 beingpivoted toward the collapsed position. With the support 20 in theretracted (upright) position, as the end wall 18 is pivoted downwardly,the tab 21 of the support 20 passes through the channel 24 in the upperframe portion 22, through the recess 30, through the channel 28 in thelower frame portion 26 and through the channel 34 in the side upstandingportion 32 of the base 12. FIG. 8 illustrates the container 10 of FIG. 6with the end wall 18 in the collapsed position. The tab 21 of thesupport 20 is received in the channel 34 in the side upstanding portion32 of the base 12. The end wall 18 and support 20 lie flush with thebase 12. The other end wall 18 (not shown) collapses similarly and theend walls 18 do not overlap each other. The side walls 14 can then becollapsed onto the end walls 18. The supports 20 are flush with the endwalls 18 and protected by the side walls 14.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view take along line 9-9 of FIG. 6. Asshown, the hinge member 54 of the support 20 includes a projection 64that interacts with a projection 66 on the end wall 18 to form a detentthat retains the support 20 in the retracted, upright position. Thehinge member 54 extends into a cavity 70 formed at the upper inner edgeof the end wall 18. The projection 66 is formed on a lower surface ofthe cavity 70. The stop member 38 of the support 20 abuts the upper edgeof the end wall 18 to prevent further rotation.

FIG. 10 illustrates the container 10 of FIG. 8 with the side wall 14collapsed onto the end wall 18. FIG. 10A is an exterior perspective viewof the container 10 showing a latch 72 that could be used to connectadjacent walls 14, 18. Although for clarity they have not beenillustrated in the other FIG. herein, it is known that collapsiblecontainers, such as the collapsible container 10 (and the collapsiblecontainer 110, below), have latches connecting adjacent walls in theupright position. The latches can be manual latches 72 as shown in FIG.10A, or knock-down latches. The latch 72, or any other sort of latch,could also be used in the container 110 described below.

FIG. 11 illustrates a container 110 according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention. The container 110 includes a base 112 havingupstanding side walls 114 (or long walls) and upstanding end walls 18(or short walls). The side walls 114 and end walls 118 are pivotablyconnected along long and short edges of the base 112, respectively. Theside walls 114 and end walls 118 are movable between the uprightposition shown and a collapsed position on the base 112.

Each end wall 118 has a support 20 pivotably mounted to an upper portionthereof. The supports 120 are shown in FIG. 11 pivoted to a supportposition generally perpendicular to the end walls 118 and projectinginto the interior of the container 110. Each support 120 includes anelongated rail 123 and a pair of arms 125 extending perpendicularly fromthe rail 123. In the support position, laterally-extending ends 121 ofthe rail 123 are supported on the side walls 114.

The interiors of the side walls 114 each include an upper frame portion122 protruding into the container 110. A pair of curved channels 124 isformed through each upper frame portion 122. The. interiors of the sidewalls 114 each further include a lower frame portion 126 having a pairof channels 128 formed therethrough. A recess 130 is defined between theupper frame portion 122 and the lower frame portion 126. The base 112includes a pair of side upstanding portions 132 to which the side walls114 are pivotably attached. Each side upstanding portion 132 includes apair of channels 134 formed on an interior thereof. The channels 124,128 and 134 are aligned with one another. The base 112 further includesa pair of end upstanding portions 136 to which the end walls 118 arepivotably attached.

FIG. 12 illustrates the container of FIG. 11 with the second container100 supported thereon.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of one of the supports 120 of FIG. 11.Each support 120 includes the elongated rail 123 and the pair of arms125 extending perpendicularly from the rail 123. A slot 127 is formed onthe underside of the rail 123 adjacent each end 121. Each of the arms125 includes an integral pivot pin 129 at an end of the arm 125 oppositethe rail 123. Each of the arms 125 includes a shoulder 131 spaced awayfrom the rail 123.

FIG. 14 is an interior perspective view, partially broken away, of thecontainer 110 of FIG. 11. As shown, the end 121 of the support 120 isreceived in a recess 144 at the upper edge of the side wall 114 adjacentthe channel 124 when the support 120 is in the support position. The end121 of the rail 123 does not align with the channels 124, 128 or 134when the support 120 is in the support position. The end wall 118includes a handle 142 formed therein.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along lines 15-15 of FIG. 14. The endwall 118 may be pivotably connected to the base 112 via a hingeincluding a hinge member 148 integral with the end wall 118 and a hingepin 150 integral with the base 112.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to that of FIG. 14, with the support 120 inthe vertical position. In FIG. 16, the support 120 has been pivotedabout pivot pin 129 from the support position shown in FIG. 16 to thevertical position. The rail 123 is spaced above an upper edge of the endwall 118, with the arm 125 fully extended. The pivot pin 129 ispivotably and slidably connected to a channel 170 in the end wall 118.An upwardly projecting rib 160 is adjacent the recess 144 in the upperedge of the side wall 114 for interlocking with the slot 127 in the end121 of the rail 123.

FIG. 17 is a view similar to that of FIG. 16, with the support 120 inthe fully retracted position. The arm 125 is inserted into the channel170 in the end wall 118 until the shoulder 131 abuts the upper edge ofthe end wall 118, leaving the rail 123 and the end 121 of the rail 123 aknown distance from the upper edge of the end wall 118.

In this position, the end wall 118 can be pivoted to the collapsedposition as shown in FIG. 18. As the end wall 118 is being pivotedtoward the collapsed position, the end 121 of the rail 123 passesthrough the channel 124, the recess 130, the recess 128 and the recess134 until the end wall 118 lies on the base 112, as shown in FIG. 19.FIG. 20 is an enlarged sectional view take along line 20-20 of FIG. 19.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described,it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe allpossible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in thespecification are words of description rather than limitation, and it isunderstood that various changes may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. For example, in any of theoccurrences above, the hinge members and hinge pins could be reversedand formed on opposite parts.

1. A container comprising: a base having opposed long edges and opposed short edges; a first wall pivotably mounted to one of the opposed short edges of the base; an adjacent wall adjacent the first wall, the support supported by the first wall and the adjacent wall in the support position; and a support pivotably mounted to the first wall and pivotable about an axis generally parallel to the base, the support pivotable between a support position and a retracted positions, wherein the support includes a laterally-extending projection, the projection contacting the adjacent wall to support the support in the support position, wherein the adjacent wall includes a channel on an interior surface thereof, the projection disposed in the channel as the first wall and the support are pivoted relative to the base toward a collapsed position on the base.
 2. The container of claim 1 wherein the support is a flap pivotable between the retracted position generally parallel to the first wall and the support position generally transverse to the first wall.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The container of claim 1 wherein the support is a flap having a lower end pivotably attached to an upper portion of the first wall, wherein the support is pivotable between the retracted position generally parallel to the first wall and the support position generally transverse to the first wall.
 5. The container of claim 4 wherein the first wall and the support are collapsible onto the base when the support is in the retracted position.
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. The container of claim 1 wherein the channel is an upper channel through an upper frame portion, the interior surface of the adjacent wall further including a lower channel through a lower frame portion and a recess between the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion, the projection passing through the upper channel, the recess and the lower channel as the first wall and the support are pivoted relative to the base to a collapsed position on the base.
 9. The container of claim 4 wherein the support includes a stop member contacting the first wall and limiting pivoting motion of the support relative to the first wall when the support is in the retracted position.
 10. The container of claim 4 wherein the support extends upward from an upper edge of the first wall when the support is in the retracted position.
 11. The container of claim 1 further including a hinge pivotably connecting the support to the first wall.
 12. The container of claim 1 wherein the support includes a locating feature projecting upwardly from the support when the support is in the support position.
 13. The container of claim 1 wherein the support is pivotably and slidably mounted to the first wall.
 14. A container comprising: a base; a first wall mounted to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position; a second wall adjacent the first wall and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on top of the first wall; and a flap mounted to an upper end portion of the first wall, the flap movable between a first position supported on the second wall and a second position extending upwardly from an upper edge of the first wall.
 15. The container of claim 14 wherein the flap and the first wall are movable to the collapsed position when the flap is in the second position.
 16. The container of claim 14 wherein the flap is generally parallel to the first wall when the flap is in the second position.
 17. A container comprising: a base; a first wall mounted to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position; a second wall adjacent the first wall and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position, the second wall including a channel on an interior surface thereof, and a support mounted to an upper end portion of the first wall and including a laterally-extending portion, the support movable between a first position where the laterally-extending portion is supported on the second wall and a second position where the laterally-extending portion of the flap can pass through the channel of the second wall as the first wall is pivoted to the collapsed position.
 18. The container of claim 17 wherein the support is slidable and pivotable relative to first wall.
 19. The container of claim 18 wherein the support is at least partially retractable into the first wall.
 20. The container of claim 17 wherein the support is at least partially retractable into the first wall.
 21. The container of claim 17 wherein the channel is an arcuate channel.
 22. The container of claim 1 wherein the channel is an arcuate channel.
 23. The container of claim 1 wherein the channel includes an upper opening into which the projection is received as the first wall is pivoted from an upright position toward the collapsed position.
 24. The container of claim 1 wherein the projection does not extend through the adjacent wall.
 25. The container of claim 14 wherein the support includes a stop member contacting the first wall when the support is in the second position and preventing further pivoting motion of the support relative to the first wall.
 26. The container of claim 1 wherein the adjacent wall is collapsible onto the first wall when the first wall is in the collapsed position on the base. 